International Air Navigation and Sovereignty

Key Principles of Air Navigation

• Recognition of the desirability of the greatest freedom of international air navigation, subject to the principle of sovereignty and security of the state.
• No discrimination on the ground of nationality for the admission and treatment of aircraft of contracting states.

Aircraft Nationality and Registration

• Every aircraft must possess the nationality of only one contracting state.
• Every aircraft must be registered in the state whose nationality it possesses.

Safety Regulations

• Compulsory certificates of airworthiness and licenses for wireless equipment, at least for aircraft used for commercial purposes.
• Mutual recognition of these certificates and licenses by contracting states.
• Compulsory licenses for pilots and other personnel in charge of aircraft, with mutual recognition by contracting states.
• International rules of the air, including signals, lights, and collision prevention, and regulations for landing and ground procedures.

Special Provisions

• Special treatment for military, naval, and state aircraft when in government service.
• Right of transit without landing for international traffic between two points outside the territory of a contracting state.
• Right of use of public airports by aircraft of all contracting states, with charges imposed without discrimination on grounds of nationality.
• Principle of mutual indemnity between contracting states to cover damage done to another state.

International Cooperation

• Necessity of a permanent international aeronautical commission.
• Obligation of each contracting state to give effect to the provisions of the convention by its domestic legislation.
• Principle that the convention does not affect the rights and duties of belligerents or neutrals in time of war.

Convention Implementation

• Adoption of standard procedures on airport control, radio services, navigational facilities, and use of signals, among others.
• Aircraft in transit and their supplies exempt from local duties or charges, and safe from seizures on patent claims.
• Carriage of munitions prohibited, and states may restrict carriage of other articles if regulations are applied uniformly to all states.